Dishrack adjustment

ABSTRACT

Means to adjust the vertical position of one or both sides of the upper dishrack in a front loading dishwasher. A rack gear and pinion gear arrangement is used on each side of the dishrack to couple a vertically movable bracket to a vertically fixed bracket. A control knob is rotated to rotate the pinion gear and to move the gear racks up or down to thereby adjust the height of the movable bracket and of the dishrack held by the movable bracket.

United States Patent Daily DISHRACK ADJUSTMENT Thomas Edward Daily,Herrin, lll.

Fedders Corporation, Edison, NJ.

Oct. 7, 1974 Inventor:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No:

U.S. Cl 312/351; 312/311 Int. Cl. A4713 88/00; A47B 95/00 Field ofSearch 312/247, 311, 312, 351;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1969 Geiger 312/351 5/1973Morgan 1 312/351 10/1973 Kaufiman 312/351 July 1, 1975 3,809,451 5/1974Pitstick 1. 312/351 Primary Exa'n'tiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Ryder, McAulay, Fields, Fisher & Goldstein [57] ABSTRACT12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 DISHRACK ADJUSTMENT BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION In front loading dishwashers, the racks containing thedishes and other articles to be washed are supported within the tub sothat the dishracks can be moved horizontally forward, when the frontdoor is open, to facilitate loading and unloading.

The height of the dishwasher is strictly limited where the dishwasher isone of the under-the-counter type. However, even the roll-a-rounddishwasher has a height limitation based on consumer acceptability. As aconsequence, there is a difficult choice to be made as to the optimumvertical placement of the upper and lower dishracks relative to eachother. Large meat platters when placed in the lower dishrack mayinterfere with movement of the upper dishrack. Other articles, such aspilsner glasses, when placed in the upper dishrack extend too far up topermit rolling the upper dishrack into the tub.

If the user were able to adjust the height of the upper dishrack, theuser would be able to select an optimum arrangement for a given loadingcondition. With such flexibility, the upper dishrack can be placed atits uppermost limit to permit the lower dishrack to receive very largedishes and platters. At the other extreme, the upper dishrack can belowered to a point where very tall glasses can be placed in the upperdishrack for washing.

There are known systems to accomplish this adjustment in the height ofthe upper dishrack. One is described in US. Pat. No. 3,472,573 issued toGeiger and another is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,589 issued toMorgan.

However, in order for such a system to be acceptable, it must be simpleto operate, low in cost, rugged in structure, reliable in operation, fitwithin a dimensional requirement set for dishwashers, all withoutmaterially reducing the size of the tub and still function in a fashionthat will avoid interferring with or degrading the effectiveness of thecleaning operation of the dishwasher.

The major purpose of this invention is to provide an adjustment systemto give the user the flexibility to choose the relative clearance forarticles placed in the upper and lower dishracks while at the same timemeet ing the various criteria for the acceptability of such a device asset forth above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In brief, in one embodiment of theinvention, each side of the upper dishrack is supported on a verticallydisposed vertically movable side bracket. On the back (i.e., outboard)surface of each side bracket, there are two spaced vertically extendinggear racks. A separate pinion gear is engaged with each of the gearracks. The two pinion gears are supported on a single, rotatable shaft.The shaft in turn is supported on a vertically fixed bracket spaced fromthe movable bracket. Thus, the pinion gears cannot move vertically. As acontrol knob is rotated to rotate the pinion gear shaft and the twopinion gears, the two associated gear racks are moved up or down by thepinion gears to thereby adjust the height of the vertically movablebracket and thus of the dishrack held by the movable bracket.

The gear and rack arrangement on the right hand side of the upperdishrack can be operated independently from the gear and rackarrangement on the left hand side of the dishrack. Thus, within certainlimits, the upper dishrack can be tilted as well as moved up and down.In this fashion, the dishwasher can accommodate a situation where a fewtall glasses, to be washed, are placed on one side of the upper dishrackwhile a large meat platter is placed on the opposite side of the lowerdishrack.

Once the user has adjusted the height of the upper dishrack, the piniongears are locked in position, thereby locking the gear rack in position.A resilient detent can be used to hold the pinion gear in position.However, it is preferable to use a more positive peg and holearrangement which is engaged and disengaged by axial movement of thepinion gear shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a frontloading dishwasher. Dash-dot lines illustrate the upper dishrack in theprotracted loading position and dash lines illustrate the upper dishrackin the retracted washing position.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention inwhich FIG. 2 is an exploded view, illustrating the mechanism on only oneside of the upper dishrack.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the FIG. 2 embodimentshowing the upper dishrack and the associated height adjusting mechanismon both sides of the dishrack.

FIG. 4 is a side vertical cross-sectional view through one side of theFIG. 2 embodiment at the area where the height adjusting mechanism islocated, showing both front and back pinion gears. FIG. 4 is taken alongthe line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate a second embodiment in which FIG. 5 is anexploded view of the mechanism at one side of the upper dishrack.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view (similar to that of FIG. 3)but of the FIG. 5 embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a side vertical cross-sectional view (similar to that of FIG.4) but of the FIG. 5 embodiment showing the height adjusting mechanismat one side of the dishrack. FIG. 7 is taken along the line 7-7 in FIG.6.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a third embodiment in which FIG. 8 is anexploded view of the mechanism at one side of the upper dishrack.

FIG. 9 is a side vertical cross-sectional view (similar to that of FIG.4) but of the FIG. 8 embodiment showing the height adjusting mechanismat one side of the dishrack.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a fourth embodiment in which FIG. 10 is anexploded view of the mechanism at one side of the upper dishrack.

FIG. 1 l is a side vertical cross-sectional view (similar to that ofFIG. 4) but of the FIG. 10 embodiment showing the height adjustingmechanism at one side of the dishrack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 provides an illustrationof the context of this invention in which a dishwasher 10 can be shownas having an upper dishrack 12 at a retracted position A during thewashing cycle and protracted position B when pulled out for loading.

FIGS. 24 illustrate a first embodiment of this invention. Two piniongears 14 are mounted on a common shaft 16 which shaft 16 projectsforward of the front panel of the dishwasher. A manual control knob 18is I attached to the front of this common shaft 16. The shaft 16 ismounted through two openings in stops 42 which are part ofa bracket 20.This bracket 20 in turn is mounted to the frame of the dishwasherthrough rollers 32 so that the bracket 20 and the dishrack 12 can movein and out horizontally. However. this bracket 20 is mounted to theframe so that the bracket 20 cannot move vertically thus constrainingthe pinion gears 14 from moving vertically.

A vertically movable bracket 22 is coupled, through two rack gears 24,to the two pinion gears 14 and thus is vertically movably mounted to thevertically fixed bracket 20. A pair of vertically elongated slots 26 inthe vertically movable bracket 22 accommodate the pinion shaft 16 andthus permit vertical movement of the vertically movable bracket 22 whilethe shaft 16 is held vertically fixed by the bracket 20. As the knob 18is rotated, the pinions l4 rotate causing the rack gears 24 to move upor down within the limits imposed by the length of the slots 26. Movablebracket 22 can descend no further than is permitted by engagement of thetop of the slots 26 and the shaft 16. Similarly the movable bracket 22can move upwardly no further than is permitted by engagement of thebottom of the slots 26 and the shaft 16.

Fingers 28 extend into the tub portion of the dish washer from the topof the vertically movable bracket 22 and engage the top rods 30 of theupper dishrack 12 to hold the upper dishrack 12 (only a por tion ofwhich is shown in FIG. 2). A mirror image (see FIG. 3) of thearrangement shown in FIG. 2 exists on the other side of the dishrack 12.Thus the two fingers 28 shown in FIG. 2 and the corresponding twofingers on the other side of the dishrack l2 serve to support and holdthis upper dishrack I2 within the tub portion of the dishwasher 10.

The vertically fixed bracket is mounted on the frame of the dishwasher10 through rollers 32 which are mounted on horizontal rails (not shown)so that the bracket 20 can move in a horizontal direction to move thedishrack 12 in and out of the tub of the dishwasher 10. Thus, the fixedbracket 20 is fixed only in a vertical direction and is labeled herein afixed bracket only to distinguish it from the vertically movable bracket22.

In operation, rotation of the knob 18, rotates the pinion gears 14 whichin turn causes the rack gear 24, the attached movable bracket 22 and thedishrack 12 to move either up or down depending on the direction ofrotation of the knob 18. In the design shown, it is possible to rotatethe right side knob 18 more or less than the corresponding left sideknob (not shown). Thus, the dishrack 12 can be caused to tilt in afashion such that one side of the dishrack can be positioned higher thanits other side. The dishrack 12 can accommodate to this tilting becauseits upper rods are held between the fingers 28 in a fashion that permitsthe rods 30 to rotate about their own axes. Thus, an adjustment can bemade to the extent that there is clearance between the side of thedishrack 12 and the inboard side of the bracket 22.

The pinions 14 are positioned between end walls 200 of the bracket 20and the stops 42 so that the pinions 14 cannot move axially andengagement between pinions 14 and racks 24 is maintained.

Two resilient projections 34 operate as detent springs. The springs 34engage the teeth of the pinion gears 14 so that appreciable manual forceis required in turning the knob 18 to overcome the holding power of thesprings 34 of the pinion gears 14. However, once the pinion gears I4have been turned to the position which places the dishrack 12 in theposition desired by the user, the detent springs 34 hold the piniongears 14 and thus the dishrack 12 against further movement. The detentsprings 34 have to be resistant enough to hold the dishrack 12 againstany expected washing load since the glasses, cutlery or dishes loadedinto the dishrack 12 will transmit a downward force through the fingers28 and the rack gears 24 to the pinion gears 14 tending to cause piniongears 14 to rotate in a direction that would permit the upper dishrack12 to descend. However, the detent springs 34 prevent such motion. Thisengagement between detent springs 34 and pinion gears 14 can best beseen in FIG. 3, which figure illustrates both the right and left handsides of the washing machine 10.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate a second embodiment of this invention. The samereference numbers are used to designate parts of the second embodimentwhich correspond to parts of the first embodiment. Description ofstructure relationships and operation which is substantially identicalto that of the first embodiment will be omitted an unnecessaryduplication. However, in the second embodiment, the means formaintaining the position of the upper dishrack 12 is different from thatof the first embodiment. In particular, a projection 36 on the innersurface of the knob 18 engages one of the holes 38 deployed around theopening in the bracket 20 through which the shaft 16 extends. Thisengagement of projection 36 and hole 38 holds the shaft 16 and thus thepinion gear 14 in position.

In this FIG. 5 embodiment, a single coil spring 40 and a single piniongear 14 are positioned on the shaft 15 between the two stops 42 (thisarrangement is best seen in FIG. 7). Thus, on each side of the upperdishrack 12, there is only one pinion gear 14 and one rack gear 24.

In operation, the user pulls the knob 18 forward against the bias of thecoil spring 40 thereby disengaging the projection 36 and hole 38 so thatthe user can rotate the knob 18 bringing the dishrack to the positiondesired. Once that dishrack position has been achieved the userpositions the knob 18 to align the projection 36 with the nearest hole38 and permits the spring 40 to engage projection 36 and hole 38. Thecoil spring 40 is positioned around the pinion shaft 16 and is betweenthe forward stop 42 and the pinion gear 14 thereby biasing the piniongear 14 rearwardly. Thus, when the projection 36 and the hole 38 isaligned and the manual pull released, the knob 18 will retreat to engageprojection 36 and hole 38 thereby preventing further rotation of theshaft 16 and the pinion gear 14. This embodiment provides a morepositive locking of the upper basket 12 in the position than does theFIG. 2 embodiment.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a third embodiment of this invention whichdiffers from the preceeding embodiments in the manner of holding orlocking the upper dishrack 12 in position once that position has beense- Iected by the user. Again the same reference numerals are used toapply to identical or substantially similar parts. In FIG. 8 the rearend wall 44 of the fixed bracket 20 contains an opening 46 which isstar-shaped in configuration so that the shaft 16, which shaft is squarein cross-section, can be held in any one of a number of differentangular positions. The rear end of the shaft 16 normally extends throughthe opening 46 and is prevented from rotating by virtue of engagementbetween the points of the star-shaped opening 46 and the sides of theshaft 16. When the user wishes to change position of the upper dishrack12, the knob 18 is pulled forward to disengage the shaft 16 and theopening 46. Once the dishrack 12 has been placed in position, the userreleases the knob 18 and the bias spring 40 will force the end of theshaft 16 back against the opening 46. Slight rotational adjustment mightbe necessary to align the edges of the shaft 16 with the closest pointsof the star opening 46. This third embodiment like the secondembodiment, has the advantage of providing a positive engagement of theshaft 16 to prevent movement of the upper basket 12 when the basket inin position by the user.

FIGS. and 11 illustrate a fourth embodiment of this invention in which arigid detent 48 is employed to hold the pinion gear 14 and thus thedishrack 12 in po sition. Because the detent 48 is rigid, the piniongear 14 cannot be rotated while in engagement with the detent 48.Accordingly. in use, the user has to pull the knob 18 forward againstthe bias of the bias spring 40 until the pinion gear 14 has cleared therigid detent 48. The user can then rotate the knob 18 and thus thepinion gear 14 until the upper dishrack 12 is in the desired position.The user than releases the knob 18 so that the spring 40 can bias thepinion 14 rearwardly into engagement with the rigid detent 48 therebyholding the pinion gear 14 in position against downward forces on theupper dishrack 12.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dishwasher having a frame, a tub, upper and lower dishracksmounted in the tub, an improvement in the mechanism for adjusting theheight of the upper dishrack comprising:

first and second vertically movable dishrack support brackets onopposite sides of the tub, said movable brackets having a tub facingsurface and an outboard surface,

first and second dishrack support means attached to the tub facingsurfaces of said first and second dishrack support bracketsrespectively, said support means being adapted to be attached to theside of a dishrack to hold said dishrack against vertical movementrelative to said vertically movable support brackets,

first and second rack gears attached to said outboard surfaces of saidfirst and second movable support brackets respectively, each of saidrack gears extending vertically along said outboard surfaces of saidmovable brackets,

first and second vertically stationery support brackets coupled to theframe of the dishwasher for horizontal movement relative to the frame ofsaid dishwasher, said vertically stationery support brackets spacedoutboard from said outboard surfaces of said first and second verticallymovable support brackets respectively,

first and second rotatable pinion gears, each having an horizontalshaft, said shafts being mounted on respective ones of said verticallystationery support brackets, said pinion gears being permanently inengagement with said first and second rack gears respectively,

said vertically movable support brackets being supported solely by theengagement of said rack gears and said pinion gears,

first and second rotatable manual control means connected respectivelyto said first and second pinion shafts to permit operator rotation ofsaid pinions to cause said movable support brackets to move vertically.and

first and second holding means to hold said first and second piniongears respectively against rotational movement.

2. The dishrack adjustment improvement of claim 1 wherein each of saidholding means comprises:

a resilient detent extending inboard from said stationary supportbracket and engaging the gear teeth of said pinion gear, said detentbeing sufficiently resistant to deformation to hold said pinion gearagainst rotation induced by the weight of said dishrack when loaded andbeing sufficiently flexible to permit rotation of said pinion gear whensaid control means are manually rotated.

3. The dishrack adjustment improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

third and fourth rotatable pinion gears and third and fourth rack gears,

said third pinion gear being mounted on the same shaft as and axiallyspaced from said first pinion gear, said fourth pinion gear beingmounted on the same shaft as and axially spaced from said second piniongear,

front and rear end plates attached to and extending inboard from each ofsaid vertically fixed brackets,

front and rear stops attached to and extending inboard from each of saidvertically fixed brackets,

each of said four pinion gears being positioned between one of said endplates and one of said stops,

third and fourth rack gears attached to said outboard surfaces of saidfirst and second movable supports brackets respectfully, said third andfourth rack gears extended vertically along said outboard surfaces ofsaid movable brackets, said third and fourth rack gears beingpermanently engaged with said third and fourth pinion gearsrespectively.

4. The dishrack adjusting improvement of claim 1 wherein each of saidholding means comprises:

a rearwardly facing projection on said manual control means,

a front plate attached to and extending inboard from said stationarysupport bracket, said plate having a plurality of forwardly facingopenings positioned and sized to receive said rearwardly facingprojection, and

resilient bias means tending to bias said control means in a rearwarddirection,

the engagement of said projection and one of said openings holding saidcontrol means and associated one of said pinion shaft in position,

said bias means being sufficiently resilient to permit disengagement ofsaid projection and said openings under manual protraction of saidcontrol means.

5. The dishrack adjusting improvement in claim 1,

wherein each of said holding means comprises:

said pinion shaft being rectangular in cross-section,

resilient bias means to bias said pinion shaft in a rearward direction,

a rear plate attached to and extending inboard from said stationarysupport bracket, said plate having a star shaped opening positioned andsized to receive the rear end of said rectangular pinion shaft,

said bias means being sufficiently resilient to permit disengaging ofsaid pinion shaft and said star shaped opening under manual protractionof said control means.

6. The dishrack improvement of claim 1 wherein each of said lockingmeans comprises:

a rigid detent attached to and extending inbound from said stationarysupport bracket, said rigid detent being in normal engagement with thegear teeth of said pinion gear,

resilient bias means biasing said pinion gear into a normal position inengagement with said rigid detent,

said bias means being sufficiently resilient to permit axial movement ofsaid pinion gear to a disengaging position relative to said rigid detentwhen said manual control means is protracted.

7. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim I having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising:

a vertically disposed plate attached to and extending inboard from saidvertically movable bracket, said plate having a vertically elongatedslot,

said pinion shaft extending through said vertically elongated slot,

downward movement of said vertically movable support bracket beinglimited by engagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinionshaft,

upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.

8. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 2 having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising:

a vertically disposed plate attached to and extending inboard from saidvertically movable bracket, said plate having a vertically elongatedslot,

said pinion shaft extending through said vertically elongated slot,

downward movement of said vertically movable support bracket beinglimited by engagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinionshaft,

upward movement of said vetically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.

9. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 3 having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising:

a vertically disposed plate attached to and extending inboard from saidvertically movable bracket, said plate having a vertically elongatedslot,

said pinion shaft extending through said vertically elongated slot,

downward movement of said vertically movable support bracket beinglimited by engagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinionshaft,

upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.

10. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 4 having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising:

a vertically disposed plate attached to and extending inboard from saidvertically movable bracket, said plate having a vertically elongatedslot,

said pinion shaft extending through said vertically elongated slot,

downward movement of said vertically movable support bracket beinglimited by engagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinionshaft,

upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.

11. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 5 having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising:

a vertically disposed plate attached to and extending inboard from saidvertically movable bracket, said plate having a vertically elongatedslot,

said pinion shaft extending through said vertically elongated slot,

downward movement of said vertically movable support bracket beinglimited by engagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinionshaft,

upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.

12. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 6 having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising:

a vertically disposed plate attached to and extending from saidvertically movable bracket, said plate having a vertically elongatedslot,

said pinion shaft extending through said vertically elongated slot,

downward movement of said vertically movable support bracket beinglimited by engagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinionshaft,

upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.

1. In a dishwasher having a frame, a tub, upper and lower dishracksmounted in the tub, an improvement in the mechanism for adjusting theheight of the upper dishrack comprising: first and second verticallymovable dishrack support brackets on opposite sides of the tub, saidmovable brackets having a tub facing surface and an outboard surface,first and second dishrack support means attached to the tub facingsurfaces of said first and second dishrack support bracketsrespectively, said support means being adapted to be attached to theside of a dishrack to hold said dishrack against vertical movementrelative to said vertically movable support brackets, first and secondrack gears attached to said outboard surfaces of said first and secondmovable support brackets respectively, each of said rack gears extendingvertically along said outboard surfaces of said movable brackets, firstand second vertically stationery support brackets coupled to the frameof the dishwasher for horizontal movement relative to the frame of saiddishwasher, said vertically stationery support brackets spaced outboardfrom said outboard surfaces of said first and second vertically movablesupport brackets respectively, first and second rotatable pinion gears,each having an horizontal shaft, said shafts being mounted on respectiveones of said vertically stationery support brackets, said pinion gearsbeing permanently in engagement with said first and second rack gearsrespectively, said vertically movable support brackets being supportedsolely by the engagement of said rack gears and said pinion gears, firstand second rotatable manual control means connected respectively to saidfirst and second pinion shafts to permit operator rotation of saidpinions to cause said movable support brackets to move vertically, andfirst and second holding means to hold said first and second piniongears respectively against rotational movement.
 2. The dishrackadjustment improvement of claim 1 wherein each of said holding meanscomprises: a resilient detent extending inboard from said stationarysupport bracket and engaging the gear teeth of said pinion gear, saiddetent being sufficiently resistant to deformation to hold said piniongear against rotation induced by the weight of said dishrack when loadedand being sufficiently flexible to permit rotation of said pinion gearwhen said control means are manually rotated.
 3. The dishrack adjustmentimprovement of claim 1 further comprising: third and fourth rotatablepinion gears and third and fourth rack gears, said third pinion gearbeing mounted on the same shaft as and axially spaced from said firstpinion gear, said fourth pinion gear being mounted on the same shaft asand axially spaced from said second pinion gear, front and rear endplates attached to and extending inboard from each of said verticallyfixed brackets, front and rear stops attached to and extending inboardfrom each of said vertically fixed brackets, each of said four piniongears being positioned between one of said end plates and one of saidstops, third and fourth rack gears attached to said outboard surfaces ofsaid first and second movable supports brackets respectfully, said thirdand fourth rack gears extended vertically along said outboard surfacesof said movable brackets, said third and fourth rack gears beingpermanently engaged with said third and fourth pinion gearsrespectively.
 4. The dishrack adjusting improvement of claim 1 whereineach of said holding means comprises: a rearwardly facing projection onsaid manual control means, a front plate attached to and extendinginboard from said stationary support bracket, said plate having aplurality of forwardly facing openings positiOned and sized to receivesaid rearwardly facing projection, and resilient bias means tending tobias said control means in a rearward direction, the engagement of saidprojection and one of said openings holding said control means andassociated one of said pinion shaft in position, said bias means beingsufficiently resilient to permit disengagement of said projection andsaid openings under manual protraction of said control means.
 5. Thedishrack adjusting improvement in claim 1, wherein each of said holdingmeans comprises: said pinion shaft being rectangular in cross-section,resilient bias means to bias said pinion shaft in a rearward direction,a rear plate attached to and extending inboard from said stationarysupport bracket, said plate having a star shaped opening positioned andsized to receive the rear end of said rectangular pinion shaft, saidbias means being sufficiently resilient to permit disengaging of saidpinion shaft and said star shaped opening under manual protraction ofsaid control means.
 6. The dishrack improvement of claim 1 wherein eachof said locking means comprises: a rigid detent attached to andextending inbound from said stationary support bracket, said rigiddetent being in normal engagement with the gear teeth of said piniongear, resilient bias means biasing said pinion gear into a normalposition in engagement with said rigid detent, said bias means beingsufficiently resilient to permit axial movement of said pinion gear to adisengaging position relative to said rigid detent when said manualcontrol means is protracted.
 7. The dishrack adjusting mechanism ofclaim 1 having a stop mechanism for each of said movable supportbrackets comprising: a vertically disposed plate attached to andextending inboard from said vertically movable bracket, said platehaving a vertically elongated slot, said pinion shaft extending throughsaid vertically elongated slot, downward movement of said verticallymovable support bracket being limited by engagement between the upperend of said slot and said pinion shaft, upward movement of saidvertically movable support bracket being limited by engagement betweenthe lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.
 8. The dishrackadjusting mechanism of claim 2 having a stop mechanism for each of saidmovable support brackets comprising: a vertically disposed plateattached to and extending inboard from said vertically movable bracket,said plate having a vertically elongated slot, said pinion shaftextending through said vertically elongated slot, downward movement ofsaid vertically movable support bracket being limited by engagementbetween the upper end of said slot and said pinion shaft, upwardmovement of said vetically movable support bracket being limited byengagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft. 9.The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 3 having a stop mechanism foreach of said movable support brackets comprising: a vertically disposedplate attached to and extending inboard from said vertically movablebracket, said plate having a vertically elongated slot, said pinionshaft extending through said vertically elongated slot, downwardmovement of said vertically movable support bracket being limited byengagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinion shaft,upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.10. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 4 having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising: a verticallydisposed plate attached to and extending inboard from said verticallymovable bracket, said plate having a vertically elongated slot, saidpinion shaft extending through said vertically elongated slot, downwardmovement of said vertically movable support bracket being limited byengagEment between the upper end of said slot and said pinion shaft,upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.11. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 5 having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising: a verticallydisposed plate attached to and extending inboard from said verticallymovable bracket, said plate having a vertically elongated slot, saidpinion shaft extending through said vertically elongated slot, downwardmovement of said vertically movable support bracket being limited byengagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinion shaft,upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.12. The dishrack adjusting mechanism of claim 6 having a stop mechanismfor each of said movable support brackets comprising: a verticallydisposed plate attached to and extending from said vertically movablebracket, said plate having a vertically elongated slot, said pinionshaft extending through said vertically elongated slot, downwardmovement of said vertically movable support bracket being limited byengagement between the upper end of said slot and said pinion shaft,upward movement of said vertically movable support bracket being limitedby engagement between the lower end of said slot and said pinion shaft.